To earn the M.S. degree, a student must complete at least two semesters of full-time study; must successfully complete the course work required by his or her Special Committee; must conduct original research and write a thesis recording that work; and must pass the final oral examination defending the thesis.
To earn the Ph.D. degree, a student must pass the comprehensive Admission to Candidacy ("A") examination within the first two years of study; must successfully complete the course work required by his or her Special Committee; must conduct original research that will have lasting value and write a dissertation recording that work; and must pass the final ("B") examination defending the dissertation. A minimum of six academic terms of full-time study are required.
A student is recommended for either the M.S. or Ph.D. degree when his or her Special Committee members agree that the appropriate level of scholarly achievement has been reached and that the Graduate School's requirements have been satisfied.
